The Rural Spinal Cord Injury Service (RSCIS) provides an outreach model of service provision across the entire Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSW LHD) for people living with a spinal cord injury (SCI). The Rural Spinal Cord Injury Service (RSCIS) is committed to ensuring that people with spinal cord injuries have access to services, support and evidence based information to optimise their health outcomes and opportunities. The RSCIS operates as part of a “hub and spoke” model of the Spinal Outreach Service (SOS). The hub, SOS, is based in Sydney and the focal points (spokes) of the Rural Spinal Cord Injury Service are based in regional centres across NSW. The NNNSWLHD RSCIS consists of 1 full time Rural Spinal Cord Injury Coordinator. The role of the RSCIS Coordinator is to improve health outcomes, access to information and access to services. This is achieved through the following processes:

Coordination and participation in Spinal Outreach Service (SOS) rural clinics and follow up of recommendations and goals made during the clinic.

Development of local service networks and referral pathways for whole of life health issues for people with a spinal cord injury.

Assistance for people with a new spinal cord injury to transition from metropolitan spinal units back into their own communities.

Provision of a consultancy and health promotion service. This service is available to people with a spinal cord injury, their family, clinicians and community agencies involved in day to day service provision for people with a spinal cord injury.

Access Criterion:

People with a spinal cord injury with evidence of damage to neural tissue as a result of trauma or from a non-progressive disease process